Can divider



6 Sheets-Sheet l n E: ii Il J. SIMPSON CAN DIVIDER ma-- llil BY cfuszvln Simpson mmf @M2/M Dec. 25, 195.6

.lllllll l1ll... 1111 r IL Filed May l5, 1952 I l I J. SIMPSON CAN DIVIDER Dec. 25, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1952 INVENTOR Jusz'?, Simpson ^fwr H.

ATTORNEYS J. SIMPSON CAN DIVIDER Dec. 25, 1956 e shets-sneet 3 Filed May l5, 1952 ATTORNEYS fz-$21171 Simpson J. SIMPSON CAN DIVIDER Dec. 25, 1956 e Smeets-sheet 4 Filed May 15, '1952 IAN/Hawk Dec. 25, 1956 J. slMPsoN 2,775,335

CAN DIVIDER Filed May 13, 1952 B SheetS-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jus-5in Simfsm Mam ATTORNEYS J. SIMPSON CAN DIVIDER Dec. 25, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 15,. 1952 R O T N E V m KLMN ABC wABc MAB ww. 5 2C.. 5 .r CD

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GHI LMNKUJ BY MaJ/m7 United States Patent O CAN DIVIDER Justin Simpson, Elmhurst, lll., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York j Application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 2587,539` 15 Claims. (Cl. 198--31) The invention relates generally to the art of manufacturing cans and primarily seeks to provide a novel apparatus for receiving cans conveyed in a'single line and dividing and delivering them into a plurality of lines.

In modern plants cans are manufactured very rapidly and it is quite common to feed the cans into the linesalt a rate well in excess of four hundred per minute; `It is often desirable to direct the cans from the single lines into which they are fed as they are manufactured into a plurality of lines, for various purposes, one `such purpose being the loading of the cans into bags or wrappers in which they can be shipped and stored with great facility.

In one practice of packaging the manufactured cans a plurality of rows of cans are rolled on their sides from` the cans must be handled positively and accurately in( the receiving thereof from the single line and the dividing and depositing of the same into the plurality of Vline chutes or conveyors, and it is the purpose of the present f invention to provide a novel apparatus capable of performing this can dividing function with the required posttiveness 'and accuracy.

In its more detailed nature the invention seeksj'lto cans in individual lines from the turret pockets and direct-` ing them away `from the turret, means for holding cans Iice paratus of the character stated in which the number of the turret pockets and the associated magnet means and ejector means comprises a multiple of the number of the guides into which the cans are to be discharged, and in which the control cam means are arranged so that the cans will be discharged accurately, one can at a time and sequentially intothe individual receiving guides, with a smooth rhythm and balancing of the machine parts in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the control cam means comprise ring cams corresponding in number to the number of can receiving guides, each cam including an ejector member projection controlling portionand an ejector member retraction controlling portion, the projection controlling portions of the respective cams being `progressively placed in the direction of rotation of the turret and in cooperative relation to the divided can receiving guides so as to properly timey the discharging of individual cansinto said guides.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatusv of lthe character stated in which the turret is rotatable about a horizontal axis and the cans are discharged downwardly into the receiving guides, the cans travelling with their axes parallel the turret axis while moving with the turret, and there being included quarter turn twisters which turn the cans as they are falling in the guides so that when they are ultimately delivered they will roll away with their axes horizontally disposed.

2A' further object of the invention is to provide an ap-` i paratus of the character stated in which the ring cams are individually adjustable about a common center so that the discharging of the individual cans ca` be accurately controlled.

A sti-ll further object of the inventioneisito provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the' magnet means comprise permanent magnets disposedopposite thebottom of each turret pocket and shaped to conform partially to the shape of a can in the'pockeLIand the ejector members have arm end extremities straddling the magnet units in position for engaging each can simultaneously at both ends, said ejector members having rollers thereon for individually engaging the ring cams.

`Wirth the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the detailed description,

' ,the appended claims and the several views illustrated in in the turret pockets until they approach the guides in` i which they are to be received, and meansfor bringing about controlled discharging of the cans from the .tunret pockets into said guides. i i i f An object of the invention is to `provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the means for-holding j the cans in the turret pockets comprise magnet means., 'and the means for bringing about controlled discharglng of the cans from the turret pockets include reciprocable strip them from `the holding magnet means to fall into the take-away guides. f Another object of the invention is to provide an` apparai ejectors which engage the cans at the proper time and tus of the character stated in which the can ejectors are in the form of radially reciprocable can engaging inem-I ejector members is effected by the cam means and the' projection of said ejector members is eected by the spring means. v

Another object of the. invention is AtoprovicleanQap-r` the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the novel can dividing apparatus. i

Figure 2 is a left end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. j j

Figure'` 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2'.

Figure l4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken through the turret structure between the front plate and the rear ring thereof, looking toward said rear ring, and the` can ejector members and their guiding means being shown in elevation.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, the sectionv being taken on a line behind and excluding the magnets -J one of the magnet saddle, magnet clamp and securingV screw sets.

Figures 9 through 13 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken through the positions of successively placed, ring cam engaging rollers and respectively illustrating the relations of the individual rollers and the individual cams eectively engaged thereby.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view illustratinga preferred sequence in the discharging of cans from theturret into the receiving guides.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the improved can divider apparatus includes. a frame structure. composed of 'a base; platey 5 and; parallel upright channel members 6 attached. at4 their lower endsto reinforcing. angles 7 and braceplates- 8,Y and having a main support bar 9. joining the, upper endsv thereof and secured thereto as yat 10. A'n upper intermediate k support bar. 11 isl secured as at 12 to upright; angle pieces 13:,attachedto. the channels` 6, and alower intermediate, support bar- 14 is secured atlSztov said angles.v Agrear framefplate 16. is secured to the bars-9and 11fand .has an arcuate cut-out 17 at its, upper edge.` Front plate support members 13 are mounted,- on; spacers 19 pro. jectingfrom the rear plate-16, and afront plate 20.is secured onsaid support members by quick detachablel bolts 21 andhas an'arcuatecut-out 2-2 1in; its upperedge aligned withthe beforeinentioned` plate cut-outu17.. See Figures-l, 2, 4. and 5. 1

Attention is, directed to. Figure 7 from whichfitwill be apparentthatz a` sleeve bearing 2.3y is provided;` the same.; being welded to a mounting platef24-whicl1issecured as at 25 to the mainv support bar 9. Thesleeve 23, has a, bearing end extensionA 216' which lis .projected through., an opening 27 in the support bar 9.

A driyer shaftZS. is rotatably supported. in the .sleeve bearing 23 and has a. reduced diameter end extension 29 aboutwhich a driven sleeve 30 is rotatably mounted. The sleeve. 30'. has ahead 31Awhich is connected; by a shearpin 32 with a` driver sleeve 33 surrounding the; sleeve` 30 and which-will be rotatable relative to. the sleeve` 30. at. any timea shearing of the pin .32; shouldi occur. The sleeve 33 is keyed as at 34 to a driver pulley.' 3S, andthe sleeve,30.is keyed as at 36 to a small driver piniong37. The .pinion 37 mesheswith a large gear` 38; v keyed as,at,39.on:the jack shaft 40 which is rotatable inthe bearingA-l. .A. smallpinion 42 also is keyed on they jack1 shaft. 4.0 .and meshes with and drives a.. large gear 43 whic,l1;is. keyedv as at 44 on the main; shaft 28;" It

piece hub composed of the end piece 59 and the bearing v piece 60, the latter having rotative bearing on the sleeve trated in Figure 1 ofthe drawings.

extension 26, and said pieces 59 and 60 being joined by screws 61. The two-piece hub is secured against endwise displacement from the main shaft 28 by a screw secured end cap 62, and a turret plate 63 is secured to the hub by the same screws 61 which secure the assembly of the hub pieces. The turret plate 63 has a plurality of can receiving pockets 64 formed in the periphery thereof, and in this particular illustration fifteen such pockets are provided. The plate 63 also is provided with a plurality of radial slots 65, one such slot being aligned with eachy pocket in the manner clearing illus- The plate 63 cooperates with the ring 66 in forming the turret rotor which is rotatable with the main shaft 28, and the ring is secured by bolts 67 and spacer sleeves 68 in assembly relation with said plate. The ring 66 is.A equipped with can receivingpockets-.69which align with the pockets. 64 in the plate 63.

A .support ring-70.- is secured in a receiving recess 71 formed in.- the main support ba-r 9 by screws 72 and is equipped with an abutment llange 73 as will be clearly apparent by reference tov FigureA 7. A plurality of ring cams-74, 75, 76, 77 and 7S are mounted onv the ring 70 and are heldin face contact and against the abutment, lange 73.. It will be apparent by reference to Figure 5i of the drawings that each ring has lan ejector member loweringor projecting portion 79, an ejector member projected dwellv portion 80, an ejector member retracting-- rise portion 81;and an ejector member retracted .d`well. portion 82, the respective ring portions 79 being stepped around. for. successive functioning. in a manner and for apurpose. later to be described. A

willbe. apparent by. reference to Figure 7 that rotation impartedto .the pulley 35 will drive the.pinion.37 'Whichi in turn drives the gear 38 and thepinion. 42,. andthelpinion 42, imparts rotation to the large gelar-43andl the main.4 shaft.. 2 8.on which, the latter is secured.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures-6l and. 7 that the bearing 41v parallels., the main .-1 shaft: 28 `and is clamped as at 45 between blocks 46 having slotted-bare extensions,47.'.V The extensions -47are longitudinally-adjustably secured as at 48 to the blocks 49 which are-gade. justably clampedmonpthe sleeve bearing 2 3.. A sprocket 50. is secured on the jackshaft `Eiland serves azdriving purpose to-be vdescribed hereinafter, andit will bev ap.-- parent that b y adjusting the arms 47 ontheir adjustable mountings.at48:the spacing of the shafts 28.l and40' can be varied when it is desired to vary the ratio ofthe gearfcouple, and by adjusting the jack rshaft supports 46 clamp ring 83 holds the ring cams in face cont-act and` againstth'e. flange 73, and theV ring 83. is held in place byj the set` screws. 84.

A guide ring S5 is secured lto the rear face of the turret plate. 63` and has radial slots 86 provided in its front face to serve'asY guides for the innerends of radially projectableand retractable ejector bars 87. The outer ends of rthe bars 87l are slide guided in registering slots 88 in the front faces of ynon-magnetic saddle blocks 89 which are screw ysecured-to the turret plate 63v asat 90. See Figures 1, 3, 7 and '8j Each bar 87 has an ejector arm 91 Secured thereto by a screw 92and a stud 93, and each studhas 'a roller 94 mounted on its rear end portionin'position for engaging one ofthe ring cams. It willbeapparent by reference to Figures.7 and 9 through l3"tl`1at the studs 93 vary in length for presenting the several` rollers 94 for individual contact with the several ringcams: The outerend of each arm 91 is offset as at 95-'tofstraddle the respective saddle block 89, and the end extremityof' each arm 91" is in cross alignment with the outer end extremity of thev cooperatingejector bar 87 fora-purpose that-will becomeapparent as this disclosure41 progresses;

Air-anchor` platef96 is secured in position by thel same screws'y 90,` which secure the saddle blocksA 89l on the turretA plate 63; and'to each` saidv plate 96 is' anchored a.

retractile'spring 97, they free end of'which is Iattached andtofconstantlyVv tend to project the cam ejector'memof ythe sprocketA Sltcan .bevaried for chfainl tightening berfcomprisingethe bar S7 'and the cooperating arm Eachx Saddle-block 89v has a saddle recess 98-in whichl a pair of permanent magnets 99 are secured inparallel I .spacedfrelationlby a cruciform brass clamp bar 100 held manner: clearly `illustrated in Figure v4.

A supporting frame structure generally designated7103^- 16 is-adjustably'fmounted as2 at- 1'04onfthe-'main--suppert armes bat;9 and has upper and lower bearings 105 and 106 secured thereon and providing rotative bearing vfor an uprightly disposed timing screw 107. See Figures 1 through 5.` The screw 107 receivesthe cans C from the single line feedway' 10S and times `them into the turret pockets. The screw is opposed by a presser plate 109 which is pivotally supported at 110 and spring pressed toward the screw as at 111, movement of the plate toward the screw being limited by the stop means 112. A worm gear 113 is provided at the lower end of the screw and is driven by a worm 114 mounted on a shaft 115 having a sprocket 116 thereon which is driven through a chain 117 from the previously mentioned sprocket 50. It will be apparent by reference t-o Figure 6 that adjustment of theV bearing supporting devices 47, 49 about the center of the bearing sleeve 23 will serve to tighten or loosen the chain 117, and adjustment of the motor supporting plate 54` about the stud 56will serve to tighten or loosen the pulley driving belt 51. p

, As will be apparent by `reference to Figures l, 2 and 4fof the drawings, ve' sets of chute pla-tes or can receiving 'guides are provided, and these are respectivelydesignat-ed 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122. These guides are supported on individual upper mounting rings 123 which are'in turnattached to plates 124 secured to the support bar 11. To eachpring 123`is secured the upper end of a quarter turn twister generally designated 12S, and the twisters are attached at their lower ends to mounting rings 126 secured to plates 127 which are in turn secured tothe lower bar 14. Each twister 125 delivers into a" -ported in parallel spaced relation, one thereof being disposed outwardly of each of the turret plates 63 and ring 66 Ias will be apparent by reference to Figures l, 3, 4 and 5'of the drawings. The stripper cams 131 are supported onybolts 132, and their stripper surfaces 133 are disposed to strip from the turret pockets any cans which might not be discharged from the magnets 99 bythe ejector'bars 87 and arms 91, 9S.

It is to be understood that the number of pockets formed in the turret constitutes a multiple of the number of guides into which the cans are to be discharged.

yIn other words, thereare fifteen pockets and tive guides.

It will be noted that there are also ve of the ring cams 7 4 through, 78, and these yare placed with their can discharge controlling portions 79 stepped around in cooperative relation to the guides 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122. In this' mannerthe discharging of the cans is arranged in sequence, and the can ejecting devices are controlled by the cams to function in cooperation as the respective cans are approaching the chutes or guides into which they are to be received. The several cams are adjustably mounted on the supporting ring 70 so that the individual positions can be adjusted to lassure accurate timing of the ejection of ythe cans. While the ring cams are Vadjustably mounted, as aforesaid, to permit variations in the setting thereof, it is preferred that they be so arranged as to cause the cans .to be -discharged from the 'turret one -at a time, or sequentially. Thus only one spring` 97 is cam released during one unit distance of movement of the turret and only one ejector is projected for can discharging purposes during such travel, and therefore vthe cans are sequentially and accurately discharged into the individual guideswith a smooth rhythm andbalancing of the machine parts in motion. The prefered sequence of the discharging of cans is diagrammatically illustrated .in Figure 14.

In Figure 14, the turret is diagrammatically indicated.

fifteen pockets,rthis being three times the number of thecan receiving guides..N The guides are five in num ber and are dened on the diagrammatic view by the sixjvertical lines. The turret pockets are designated in three consecutive groups each composed of five consecupockets of each group will discharge the cans received therein sequentially into the ve receiving guides. Therefore, the fifteen cans Shown in the diagram constitute the number of cans which will be received and discharged by the turret pocket-s during one complete rotation thereof.

The horizontal lines traversin-g the vertical lines indicating the can receiving guides designate unit distances of movement of the turret pockets, and each shaded block indicates the time of delivery of a can into the particular ca-n receiving guide designation. The three groups of cans making up the fifteen are designated 1A--2B--3C- 4D land 5E, 1F-2G-,f-3H-.4I-SL and 1K2L3M 4N- 50, these designations bein-g made up of the base Vlet-ter exponents designate the cans of the respective groups and the pockets of the turret in which they are received and from which they are delivered.

A glance at `the shaded blocks will make it apparent that the cans of the groups are discharged sequentially, each successive can being delivered into a separate guide. It Vwill be noted that the delivery of the cans of a given group of ve will commence before the delivery of the preceding group will have been completed, and also that the -delivery timing is controlled by placementrof the cams so that at no time will two or more cans be delivered simultaneously. One can will be discharged at each unit dist-ance of travel of the turret, and the cans of each group will be discharged sequentially.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures 5, 7 and 9 through 13 that the cam roller 94 on the shortest stud (Figure 9) is the first one to roll downthe ejection controlling portion 79 of the foremost cam 74 to bring about a delivery of a can into the rst chute or guide 118, and this roller is the last one to be retracted in its orbit of rotation yby the rise portion 81 of said foremost cam. Conversely the last roller94 -to engage a can delivery controlling cam portion 79 is the one mounted on'the` longest stud (Figure 13), and this will be the first roller to be retracted by the lifting portion 81 of the respective ring cam. This particular arrangement and formaltion of the cams' makes it possible to provide the desired adjustment of the cam positions so as to assure accuracy in the delivery of the cans into the guides into which they are intended to fall.

As each can C gravita-tes down the single line feedway 108 it will be timed by .the screw 107 into one of the turret pockets 64, 69 and will be held in the pocket by the respective magnet means 99, 102 -until the particular pocket approaches the particular one of the guides 118 through 122 into which lthe can is to be delivered, at which time the respective roller 94 will roll down the cam portion 79 so as to allow the spring 97 to project the ejector Imember 87, 91, 95 to `strip the can from the magnet means and deliver it into the particular receiving guide. After each can has been thus discharged from the turret pocket the respective roller will roll along the dwell portion and then be lifted by the respective lifting portion 81 of the. cam onto the dwell 82 which will be eiective to hold the ejector member in its retracted position.

It fis" to l-be'understo'od that the-apparatusV diselestad-"hereN infis' ybut anexample -form' Iof' apparatusf andthati the same"- maybef-variously` changed WithoutY departing from thespirit' and scopeofthe-invention as` definedj in'- the apJIJ pended claims.

I" claim:

1'.v In apparatus'ofthe-character described, aA rotaryt lturret rotatable-'about` aJ horizontal axisl -andhavingin div-idual welldefnedf can receiving pockets equidistantly' spaced aboutits-'periph'ery, means for-continuously rotating'the-turret, means driven'-positivelyin timed relation to the turret rotation for feeding cans from a single-line individually into theturret!- poclets, al plurality' ofl uprightly-'disposed gui-desU for receiving cans inindividual lines-from the turret-'pockets andi directing -themawayfrom the-turret, means' onfandlmovable-WithV the turret for' holding cans-'inthe turret-pockets until they-approach` the `guides inV which they are' to be-received, andmeans engagea'ble withr each individual can' in each individual turret pocket for brin-gingI aboutcontrolled and positiveing-i cans 'in theV turret`- pockets f until theyapproach'the-- guides in which theyare-to'- be-received; and'- means for bringing about controlledand; positive ejection-'dischargingj of cans from V-the-turret'pockets into'said guides-,said turret being rotatable abouty ahorizontal axis-with the cans travelling with their'axes parallelv the turret axis" while-'in 4theturretpocleets; andg said can deliveringguides-v including gravity roll away portions over which the'cans roll away Withtheiryaxes horizontally: disposed, and quarter turn twistersintowhi-ch the cans fall` from' the' turretpockets and Which-turn the cansa quarter turn andvdeliver them individuallyk into said: roll-'aWay-porz tions.

3i In apparatus of-l thecharacter described', arotary turret havingcan receiving pockets equidistan-tly spaced` about its -periphery, means-fon rotating theturret; means f for feeding cans from a single line individually intol the turret'pockets, a plurality -ofguides-for receivingca'ns-n individual lines from' theturret pockets and directingthem away fromthe turret, means forholding` cans in the-turret pockets until they approach the guidesm'wliich' they are tot bel received, and meansfor bringingA about controlled:dischargingof -cans from theturret pockets intosaid guides, said-can-holdingmeans comprising mag= net`r means, and said' means Vforb-ringing` about controlled` dischargingfof the; cans-'from the turret pockets includ? ingfIneans*for bringing about` a releasing of the cans from the magnet meansA as'the respective pockets are approaching the guides in which they` are to be received;

4.* InJ apparatus of the-character' described, a'v rota-ry turret having can receiving pockets equidistantlyspaced' about-itslperiphery, means for rotating the' turret, means or'feed-ingy cans from a single line individually'into the turretI pockets,` aplurality of guides forreceiving cans in'findividual lines' from thet-urretpockets'and directing them away from the-turret', means for holding cans in the turretpockets' untiltheyapproach the guides in which they areL tobereceived, and means forbringing about controlled discharging of'y cans fromthe turret pockets into'saidlguides, said can-holding means comprising magnet-means7 and said yn'ieans-'for bringing about 'controlled dischargingoffthe-cans fromtheturret pockets'inoluding reciprocable ejeetors'- and meansofrrmovingjthe. ejectors inttirnedfirelation' to the rotation of the turret to `cause them to engage the cans and strip them from the magnet*- means y-as the respectivepocketsr aref-approaching the-7 guides in which-the-cansf are to be received.-

SLIn-apparatus of* the character described, arotary.I turret having can' receiving pockets f equidistantlyH spaced about:its-periphery,-means for rotating-theturret, means forfeeding cans from asingle line individually int-othe turret-pockets', a plurality of'guides for receivingvcansl in individual lines fromfthe turret pockets and directing` them'away from the turret, means `for holding cans inthe turretpockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means for bringing-about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets' into saidY guides, said can holdingV means comprising magnet means, andsaidmeans Yfor bringingl about controlled "dise charging of the, cans from the turret pockets-includingV radially reciprocable ejector members and-` cam meansv for moving lthem, in one direction and springY means for moving them in the opposite direction in timed relation to the rota-tion ofthe turret, said ejector'members being -engageable with the cans to strip' them from the magnet,

means, as; the respective pockets are approaching j, the. guides iiiwhich the cans are to be received.

6.` In apparatus. of the character described, a rotaryA turrethaving can receiving pockets. equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means for-rotating the turret, means.-

for. feeding cans. from a single lineindividually into the. turret. pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individuallinestfrom4 the turret pockets and directing themeway from the turret, means for holding, cans inv the,.turret pockets until they. approach-the guides in which.

theyareto beA received, andv means. for bringing about' controlled., dischargingl of cans, from the turret pockets. into said ,guides,said canholding means comprising mag-,- nety means, andrsaidtmeans for bringing aboutcontrolled discharging of the cans from-the turret pockets including.

radially reciprocable ejector membersjand camrmeans` for controlling;.reciprocation of the ejector members and spring means constantly holding the ejector membersagainst thecam means and: constantly tendingtorproject. them against` the cans' to eject them from the pockets,

said cam means being disposed to permit each ejectory member tormovefy into cantejecting position as the par,-l

ticularpocket approachesl the guidein which the particu-- lar; canjisA to be received and to positively retract each ejector member after the particular can hasy been ejected.

7. Apparatus asidened in claim l in Which the number ofthe turretpocketscomprises a-multiple-of thenumber tothe number of guides with all of the cans ofeachH group being discharged sequentially.

8'. Infapparatus-'fof the character described, a-rotary" turret1 havingcanz receivingv pockets equidistantlyv spaced about: its; periphery, means for rotating the turret, means for ft'eedirig-canstrom a single -line individuallyinto the` turret pockets', a plurality of guidesY for-receiving cans. in individual linesfromthe turret pockets and directing them away from the turret, means for holding cans in the turretpocketsuntil they approach the guides in which v they areto be received, land means for bringing about controlled' discharging of'cans from the turret pockets intesa-id Iguides, said can holdingmeans comprising mag'- net means, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging ofthe cans from the turret pockets includingmeans for bringing about a releasing of the cans from the magnet lmeans as the respective pockets are approaching the guides in which they are to be received, the number of turretpockets comprising a multiple of the numberof guides into whichthe cans. are to be.discharged,. and said means .for bringing,about;-areleasingg of. the.- cans- Afromtl'e magnet. meansheingtimedtodischargethezcansu from the turret pockets in groups corresponding in number to the number-' ofguides'with 'the' cans of each group bei-11g disharged:seau,ex1tia1 ly,` ;1

9.Inpapparatus of the character described, a rotary turrenthavingfcan receiving'pockets equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means'for'r'o'tating the turret, .means forifeeding cansA from' asin'gle line individually into the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individual lines from the turret pockets and directing them away from 'the turret, means for holding cans in theY turret pockets until theyappro'ach the guides in which they are toy bereceived, and means for bringing about controlled discharging ofl 'cansfrorn' the turret pockets into said guides, 'said can holding means comprising magnet means, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging -of the cans from the turret pockets including radially reciprocable ejector members and cam means for controlling reciprocation of the ejector members and spring means constantly holding the ejector members against the cam means and constantly tending to project them against the cans to eject them from the pockets, said cam means being disposed to permit each ejector member to move into can ejecting position as the particular pocket approaches the guide in which the particular can is to be received and to positively retract each ejector member after the particular can has been ejected, the number of turret pockets comprising amultiple of the number of guides into which the cans are to be discharged, and said cam means also being disposed to control the ejection of the cans in groups corresponding in number to the number of guides with the cans of each group being ejected sequentially.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a rotary turret having can receiving pockets equidistantlyY spaced about its periphery, means for rotating the turret, means for feeding cans from a single line individually into the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individual lines from the turret pockets and directing them 'away from the turret, means for holding cans in the turret pockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means for bringing about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets into said guides, said can holding means comprising magnet means, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging of the cans from the turret pockets including radially reciprocable ejector members and spring means constantly holding the ejector members against the `cam means and constantly tending to project them against the cans to eject them from the pockets, said cam means comprising ring cams corresponding in number to the number of can receiving guides, each cam including an ejector member projection controlling portion and an ejector member retraction controlling portion, the projection controlling portions of the respective cams being progressively placed in the direction of rotation of the turrent and in cooperative relation with the spacing of said guides so that the cans will be discharged into the guides individually with no two cans being ejected from the turrent at the same time.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a rotary turret having can receiving pockets equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means for rotating the turret, means for feeding cans from a single line individually into the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individual lines from the turret pockets and directing them away from the turret, means for holding cans in the turret pockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means for bringing about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets into said guides, said can holding means comprising magnet means, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging of the cans from the turret pockets including radially reciprocable ejector members and cam means for controlling reciprocation of the ejector members and spring means constantly holding the ejector members against the means and constantly tending to project them against the c'ans to eject them vfrom the pockets, said' cam means comprisingring cams correspondingin number to the number of `can receiving guides, each cam inclu'ding an ejector meinberprojection controllmgfportion and an' ejector member retraction controlling portion, the` the turret at the same time, said ring cams being individually adjustable Y,about a common center so that the discharging ofthe individual cans can be accurately timed.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a rotary turret having can receiving pockets equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means for rotating the turret, means for feeding cans from -a single line individually into the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individual lines from the turret pockets and directing them away from the turret, means for holding cans in the turret pockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means for bringing about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets into said guides, said can holding means comprising magnet means, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging of the cans from the turret pockets including means for bringing about a releasing of the cans from the magnet means as the respective pockets are approaching the guides in which they are to be received, and means also being included for stripping from the pockets any cans which may remain therein after the pockets have passed the receiving guides.

13. In apparatus of vthe character described, a rotary turret having can receiving pockets equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means -for rotating the turret, means 4for feeding cans from a single line individually into .the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving cans in individual lines from the `turret pockets' and -directing -them away from Ithe turret, means for holding cans -in the turret pockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means for bringing ,about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets into said guides, said can holding means comprising permanent magnets disposed opposite the bottom of each turret pocket and shaped to conform partially to the shape of a can in the pocket, and said means for bringing about controlled discharging iof the cans from .the turret pockets including radially reciprocable ejector members having outer end extremities spaced to straddle the magnets in position for engaging each can simultaneously at both ends while stripping the same from the magnets.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a rotary turret having can receiving pocket-s equidistantly spaced about its periphery, means for rotating the turret, means for feeding cans from a single line individually into the turret pockets, a plurality of guides for receiving ycan-s in individual lines from the turret pockets and directing `them away from the turret, means for holding cans in the Iturret pockets until they approach the guides in which they are to be received, and means yfor bringing about controlled discharging of cans from the turret pockets into said guides, said can holding means comprising permanent magnets disposed opposite the bottom of each turret pocket and shaped to conform partially -to the shape of a can in the pocket, and said means forbringing about controlled discharging of the cans from the turret pockets including radially reciprocable ejector members having outer end extremities spaced Ito straddle the magnets in position for engaging each can simultaneously at both ends While stripping the same from the magnets, and a saddle forming a support for the permanent magnet means associated with each turret pocket and secured to the turret, each said saddle having means forming at least a partial guide means 'for the associated ejector member.

bemofi therturret pockets;..comprises at. least; thneegtimfm thaz-numbennoif guidesz; into WhiCh:1. the1- cans: are: :'tQ be: discharged,"y and in which'l lthe-.meansi for; bringing; about controlledrrand, positive; ejection ydisehargingfif ,cans-f frornx thefturret.pocketsrfinta Ithe-guides isv timed tu discharge the.; cans from-#the turret pockets :in groups, corresponding in. number'tor-thev number.. of guides-Win11 all-'vofthe: cans` of eachgroup-beingdischargedy sequentially and withthe commencement of. theA discharging o the .c ans ofga-.,g,ivenl group; precedingA the: termination othe dischargirigjof` -the cana-0f the `next preceding; group; hutI witheaohcan; of

sepana-te and-v `apart Vflsomihe dischargingL nf alL other. cans;

References; Cited .in ,thfflefofithsvpatent l UNITED STA'I'ESQPTEN'ISL Bruce July 8; 1952 

